Take in the Vendée Globe yacht race on your French motorhome trip

November 11, 2020

The legendary yacht race ‘Vendée Globe’ has just kicked off this week. It is an un-assisted, solo navigation of the globe held every four years.

Vendée Globe

It is named after the French region of Vendée where it both departs and concludes. 33 skippers from all across the world compete against each other in the toughest of conditions.

The course starts from Les Sables d’Olonne, down the Atlantic Ocean to the Cape of Good Hope then clockwise around Antarctica, keeping then back to Les Sables d’Olonne. The race generally covers approximately 24,000 nautical miles (44,000 km) and runs from November to February.

Les Sables d’Olonne

Both the start in November and the conclusion of the race in February are popular with motorhome enthusiasts who camp out to take in the atmosphere around the town.

There are two common places to stay. Port Olona which has about 40 places available. Parking in this secure area is limited to 72h00 from September 1st to June 30th with a price of €8 for 24h00. This price includes waste servicing, full water and electricity (GPS: (N) 46 ° 30’22 ” (E) 1 ° 47’17 ”).

You can also stay in the area behind the Fine Arts Museum, near the city centre. Parking here is limited to 24h00 (17 €). Electrical connections and motorhome servicing is available (GPS: (N) 46 ° 29’50 ” (E) 01 ° 46’31 ”).

Aerial view of Les Sables d’Olonne

As with any region of France, it makes for a rich and cultural visit with the added bonus of a spectacular coast to explore. For more information on what else you can see and do while you are there, try the Les Sables d’Olonne tourism website.